Fueled by five Supermoto World Championships, Aprilia's new supermotard blends total control and serious technology with extreme road riding fun

NEW YORK, NY January 5, 2009 Power slides, jumps, wheelies and full throttle straights are all part of supermoto racing, and with five Supermoto World Championships in the record books, Aprilia is a master at engineering motorcycles that can expertly handle the challenges and the sport's inherent thrills. Now, with the U.S. debut of the mid-size 2009 SMV 750 Dorsoduro, the Italian manufacturer offers American riding enthusiasts a lightweight, high-performance 92-hp V-Twin streetbike that combines all the benefits of supermoto styling and riding position with precision handling and race-bred technology. Just as importantly, the Dorsoduro comes standard with an inordinate amount of pure fun.

Lightweight, agile, and powerful, this new addition to Aprilia's family of sport bikes features the compact, new-generation 90Â° V-Twin engine for power that rivals or exceeds that of many larger twins. In addition to massive torque and unique style, the Dorsoduro is blessed with abundant racing technology, from a second-generation ride-by-wire throttle to an ultra-rigid mixed steel trellis and aluminum frame and competition-caliber brakes with radial calipers. Rough roads or smooth as glass asphalt, the 2009 Aprilia SMV Dorsoduro begs you to bring it on and leaves you smiling all the way to the end of the ride.

Minimal Styling, Extreme Good Looks

Every square inch of the lean and mean Dorsoduro has been designed to serve one purpose: delivering maximum riding thrills with minimum weight. As a result, body panels are reduced to a bare minimum. A mini fairing integrates the front head light as well as the front fender, and at the rear a knife-sharp tail houses the dual exhaust. Even the fuel tank includes off-road style radiator shrouds. This combination doesn't just keep the Dorsoduro's profile as slim and aggressive as possible, but also achieves perfect symmetry and ideal weight distribution, as well as a dry weight of just 409 lbs.

With a concentrated center of gravity, the rider melds with the machine, shifting weight effortlessly to control power output under all riding conditions, even on circuits where classic supermotard wheelies and power slides are the order of the day.

Engine Technology Befitting a World Champion

The Dorsoduro's engine has been optimized for street riding. With peak 92 hp on tap at 8,750 rpm and 61 ft.-lbs. torque available at just 4,500 rpm, the four-stroke, eight-valve DOHC V-Twin delivers the perfect combination of low-end "grunt" and steady top end performance. The compact Twin also features a mixed gear chain drive and electronic fuel injection with dual-throttle bodies.

Sophisticated electronic engine management sets a new benchmark for the competition. As the first manufacturer to utilize ride-by-wire technology on a motorcycle in this segment, Aprilia continues to be a leader in using sophisticated technical solutions that help riders harness the ultimate performance from their motorcycle. The latest generation engine control unit (ECU) manages all engine parameters, with a CAN network carrying signals to the diagnostic center integrated in the Dorsoduro's instrument cluster. The CAN uses just two wires to handle all data, dramaticallysimplifying the electrical system and reducing the overall weight of the motorcycle.

Three Performance Modes, One All-Around Entertaining Ride

Three performance modes Sport, Touring and Rain can be selected from a switch on the handlebars (with the throttle closed for safety reasons). The Dorsoduro changes its character radically, depending on which mode the rider selects. Sport mode provides aggressive instant power; Touring mode delivers a smoother throttle action that is better suited to relaxed daily riding; Rain mode reduces the engines power for improved safety on slippery surfaces.

The Tri-Map electronic throttle also means smoother, more consistent power anytime thanks to more accurate and precise throttle control, based on parameters including engine speed, gear selection, air flow, throttle position and temperature. Whatever the mapping choice, the engine is always ready to deliver the best possible performance in terms of acceleration and rev range, resulting in a most satisfying and entertaining ride.

Emissions are handled by the Dorsoduro's stainless steel dual exhaust. The system features collector pipes which meet in a single silencer under the seat before splitting again into two tail pipes. The large-volume exhaust system also aids engine breathing and boosts efficiency.

The Art of Perfect Balance

Parallel development of both engine and frame means that the Dorsoduro's longitudinally compact V-Twin is a perfect complement to the frame structure and vice versa. Just like its world championship-winning sibling, the Aprilia SXV 4.5, the Dorsoduro frame is a super tough mixed steel trellis and aluminum frame design. The top section of the frame is formed by a tubular steel trellis, which is fixed to robust aluminum side members with special high strength bolts. The complete assembly forms an extremely rigid yet lightweight structure, providing the perfect solution for taming the generous horsepower of the V-Twin engine without weight gain.

Designers and engineers also paid careful attention to the positioning of the rear shock, specifying its laterally offset position and angle to accommodate the exhaust collector pipes and avoid wasting space and adding weight. Even the Dorsoduro's aluminum alloy swingarm was specially shaped to support the asymmetric stress imparted to it by the innovative monoshock positioning. It boasts standard-setting rigidity for the motard sector.

The Dorsoduro is equipped with the finest braking technology available. Front brakes feature radial calipers with four pistons, a true state-of-the art design within the motard category. Big 320mm floating wave discs add powerful stopping performance. In the rear, a 240mm diameter wave rotor and single piston caliper is ready to do the job.

Both front and the rear brakes are fitted with aeronautical type metal braided brake lines to eliminate the sponginess inevitably associated with conventional rubber hoses and to enable the bike's top-class braking system to deliver maximum precision. Seventeen-inch front and rear high-profile tires add excellent grip and stability.

Premium Components for a World-Class Supermoto

Like all Aprilia motorcycles, the Dorsoduro features a high concentration of premium components. The sophisticated analog/digital instrument cluster incorporates diagnostics and multiple functions, all packaged in a modern, ultra-light design. Analog and digital areas are backlit white and red respectively and riders can choose from three levels of brightness. All instrumentation functions can be accessed and controlled from the dual taper, anodized aluminum handlebars, which are duplicates of the bars used on Aprilia's championship winning racing bikes.

The Dorsoduro's hydraulic clutch provides consistently precise action and exceptional smoothness and is self-adjusting as well as completely maintenance free.

The 2009 Aprilia SMV 750 Dorsoduro has a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $9,599. Color choices for U.S. riders include Aprilia Black and Shine Red.

About Aprilia and Piaggio Group Americas

Aprilia world headquarters are in Noale (Venice, Italy). Founded in 1962, the company designs and manufactures motorcycles in Noale, with production facilities in ScorzÃ¨. With 38 motorcycling world championship titles (32 road and 6 off-road) under its belt, Aprilia is the only European manufacturer to have a complete on- and off-road model portfolio, ranging from sporty scooters, innovative off-road bikes and tough adventure tourers to award-winning super sport bikes. For information on Aprilia's complete U.S. model line, visit the company's website at www.apriliausa.com.

In December 2004 Aprilia became part of the Piaggio Group, Europe's leading manufacturer of two wheelers and one of the world's most recognized and respected names in motorcycle and scooter production.

With approximately 7,000 employees, approximately 708,500 vehicles sold in 2007, 5 R&D centers, 7 production facilities in Europe and Asia, and operations in over 50 countries, the Piaggio Group has a consolidated leadership in the European 2 wheeler market. Its production includes scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200 cc displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi, Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands.